SpaceX Successfully Launches SiriusXM's SXM-7 Satellite

RADIO ONLINE | Sunday, December 13, 2020

SiriusXM SXM-7 Launch (Photo credit: SpaceX)

Maxar Technologies, SiriusXM and SpaceX, have announced that the SXM-7 satellite was successfully launched and is performing properly. SXM-7, a high-powered digital audio radio satellite, was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Sunday. Shortly afterward, SXM-7 deployed its solar arrays and began receiving and sending signals. Next, SXM-7 will begin firing its thrusters to commence its journey to its final geostationary orbit.

SXM-7 will provide continuous, reliable delivery of SiriusXM's audio entertainment and information services to consumers in the U.S. and will expand SiriusXM's coverage area in Canada and the Caribbean. SXM-7 will deliver the highest power density of any commercial satellite on-orbit, sending more than 8,000 watts of content to the continental U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, increasing the power and reach of the signal for SiriusXM.

"Maxar and SiriusXM have worked together for more than two decades to build world-class digital audio radio satellites that bring entertainment to almost every new car in America," said Maxar Senior Vice President of Space Programs Delivery Megan Fitzgerald. "We are proud to have built the latest addition to the SiriusXM constellation and look forward to the launch of their next Maxar-built satellite, SXM-8, next year."

"SXM-7 plays an important role in bolstering the continuity and reliable delivery of SiriusXM's audio entertainment, as well as our traffic, weather, data and information services for years to come," added SiriusXM Senior Vice President of Satellite and Repeater Systems Engineering and Operations Bridget Neville. "With the addition of SXM-7, our satellite-delivered service coverage area in North America is larger and more powerful than ever before. We congratulate our engineering team, Maxar and SpaceX on a successful launch."

"We had a beautiful Falcon 9 launch today, safely delivering SXM-7 to orbit," said SpaceX Vice President of Customer Operations and Integration Lee Rosen. "This was the seventh flight for this rocket's first stage booster, and we are grateful SiriusXM chose our flight-proven hardware to help broaden its coverage area."

SXM-7 weighs almost 7,000 kg and is built on Maxar's 1300-class platform and is designed to provide service for greater than 15 years. Maxar has previously built a total of seven satellites for SiriusXM, including its first-generation Sirius satellites that launched in 2000 and its second-generation Sirius satellites that launched in 2009 and 2013.

SXM-7 joins XM-3, XM-4, XM-5, FM-5, and FM-6 in SiriusXM's active satellite fleet. SXM-7 and SXM-8 together will replace XM-3 and XM-4, extending SiriusXM's satellite delivered services through at least 2036.